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Jennifer Aniston has been named and shamed for promoting a facial scrub laced with microbeads.

Nature, the world's top science journal, criticised the actress for endorsing a facial scrub made by Aveeno. A commercial for Positively Radiant shows her patting her face with a towel, before proclaiming that it provides "naturally beautiful results'.

Nature's editorial says the advert does not disclose the fact the "gentle exfoliators" in the product are plastic particles.

It goes on to describe microbeads as a serious pollutant and says that if they are not banned, Miss Aniston and others will "forever blush with shame".

The Friends star became the face of Aveeno, a skincare range made by Johnson & Johnson, in 2013. She tells how she has used the range for years, describing the partnership as a "natural fit".

In an interview with Marie Claire magazine, she said: "I love the Aveeno scrub, which I got from a makeup artist about ten years ago. I always use it at the end of the day.:

Nature, which publishes more influential science than any other publication, warns of the damage done "in the name of beauty".

Written last summer as California considered bringing in a microbead ban, the article states: "The ugly truth is that plastic microbeads found in many skin scrubs and other personal care products are a serious pollutant of the marine environment. They should be phased out rapidly.

"When Aniston, or those she inspires to follow her, rinse the scrub down the drain, many of the beads end up in the sea, where they will persist indefinitely. This is unnecessary, damaging and must stop."

The facial scrub is not sold in the UK but a similar Aveeno product, a Positively Radiant daily exfoliating cleanser, is.

The Daily Mail has tried to contact Miss Aniston and Aveeno for comment.

Johnson & Johnson has said it wanted to remove microbeads from all its products globally by the end of 2017.

Dr Laura Foster, of the Marine Conservation Society, which is campaigning for microbeads to be banned, said last night: 'Celebrities have a massive influence on what people buy.

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the MCS's call for microplastics to be removed from all products.

"Celebrities can add their voice to this movement to help protect the ocean."